Psalm 34:1

1          I will bless the LORD at all times;

                        his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

            What are some of the things in your life that bring you joy? What are some of the things in your life that give you strength? David writes, “I will bless the LORD.” Indeed, we give thanks to God for these things.

            But what about in difficult times? What about those situations and events that weaken us rather than strengthen us; are we to bless the LORD then? And those times that bring afraidness into our lives; we’re supposed to bless God then too? The answer is yes. We are to bless the LORD at all times.

This is a message for the afflicted, for those who are at the bottom of the heap.[1] The word “bless” ḇrḵhere means “to declare God to be the source of the special power.”[2] Kraus writes:

A distinctive feature of the Psalms is the fact that they speak of the blessing of Yahweh in such a way that Yahweh is the recipient, the object of human “blessing.” For example, Psalm 34 begins with the statement, “I will bless the Lord at all times” (Ps. 34:1*). … What does this mean concretely? Horst explained the significance as follows: “To recognize someone in every form of his power and of his innate majesty” (1947–1948, p. 31). … Whoever “blesses” Yahweh praises and honors his sovereign might.^[3]

            It’s easy to bless Yhwh when things are going swimmingly well. The Christian also blesses Yhwh when things are not going so swimmingly.

 St. Augustine writes:

When are you to “bless the Lord?” When he showers blessings on you? When earthly goods are plentiful? When you have a plethora of grain, oil, wine, gold, silver, slaves, livestock; while your mortal body remains healthy, uninjured and free from disease; while everything that is born on your estate is growing well, and nothing is snatched away by untimely death; while every kind of happiness floods your home and you have all you want in profusion? Is it only then that you are to bless the Lord? No, but “at all times.” So you are to bless him equally when from time to time, or because the Lord God wishes to discipline you, these good things let you down or are taken from you, when there are fewer births or the already-born slip away. These things happen, and their consequence is poverty, need, hardship, disappointment and temptation. But you sang, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be in my mouth always,” so when the Lord gives you these good things, bless him, and when he takes them away, bless him. He it is who gives, and he it is who takes away, but he does not take himself away from anyone who blesses him. EXPOSITIONS OF THE PSALMS 34.3[4]

Even in hardships or times of fear, the Christian praises the LORD from whence comes our strength and courage.

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[1] J.A. Motyer, The Psalms, ed. D. A Carson et al., New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. Accordance electronic ed. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 505.

[2]   HALOT, s.v. “ברך_{,” 1:160.}

^[3] Hans-Joachim Kraus, A Continental Commentary: Theology of the Psalms (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1992), 70–71.

[4] Blaising, Craig A. and Carmen S. Hardin, eds., Psalms 1–50. ACCS 7. ICCS/Accordance electronic edition, version 2.6. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2008. 259.